Getting Ready for School
This comprehensive reading readiness guide is designed for parents, caregivers, and educators who want to support young children using evidence-based practices aligned with the science of reading. The strategies below build the foundational skills children need before and during beginning reading instruction.
This page is for educational and informational purposes only. It reflects current literacy research and classroom-aligned practices commonly used in schools to support early reading development.
Table of Contents
Use the links below to jump to any section on this page.
- Read to Your Child Daily
- Phonological & Phonemic Awareness
- Letter Names
- Correctly Printing a Name
- Proper Letter Formation
- Letter Sounds & Teaching Order
- Reading Words in the World
- New Life Experiences
- Shared Journal Writing
- Love Books
- Beginning Reading with Decodable Texts
- Sight Words
- Reading Readiness Resources
1. Read to Your Child Daily
Read to your child every day for at least 15 minutes. Reading aloud is one of the most powerful ways to support early literacy. Make reading joyful—talk about the pictures, discuss events, and revisit favorite parts. While your child practices reading beginner books, adults should read richer picture books with more advanced vocabulary and sentence structures.
This builds listening comprehension, vocabulary, background knowledge, and motivation to read.
🔗 Learn more: 1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Why Reading Aloud Matters
- Builds emotional connection and security
- Models positive reading behavior
- Strengthens attention and listening skills
- Expands imagination and creativity
- Develops appreciation for art and storytelling
- Passes on family values
- Creates lasting memories
Adapted from FamilyReading.org
It is perfectly okay—and beneficial—to reread favorite books again and again.
2. Phonological & Phonemic Awareness
Encourage your child to play with sounds in words. Phonological and phonemic awareness skills are essential precursors to reading.
Key skills include:
- Blending sounds (e.g., /c/ /a/ /t/ → cat)
- Segmenting sounds (e.g., plant → /p/ /l/ /a/ /n/ /t/)
Nursery rhymes are especially powerful because they develop rhythm, rhyme awareness, and sound anticipation.
🔗 Activities: Phonological & Phonemic Awareness Activities
3. Letter Names
A simple set of flashcards works well (see image above). The uppercase and lowercase letters are featured on separate cards. These cards are large and sturdy, and the “a” is designed in the style children learn to write it.
Disclosure: This is an affiliate link. I earn a small commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you. This helps support free content on the site.
Teach the names of the letters using playful, low-pressure activities:
- Match uppercase and lowercase letters
- Use letter-name chants (e.g., Wilson Fundations®)
Recognition: Child points to a letter when named
Retrieval: Child names the letter you point to
Both skills are important, but retrieval is more advanced.
4. Correctly Printing a Name
Teach your child to write their name correctly:
- First letter uppercase, remaining letters lowercase
- Letters start at the top and follow proper strokes
- Use a miniature golf pencil, not oversized preschool pencils
Correct formation early prevents bad habits later.
5. Proper Letter Formation
Correct letter formation supports spelling, writing fluency, and written expression. Research shows that poor handwriting, combined with weak spelling, can impair writing quality and learning.
The teaching-order graphics referenced here are posted with permission from Learning Without Tears®.
🔗 Visit: Learning Without Tears
Capitals are developmentally easier and are often taught first to reduce reversals and support orientation.
https://youtu.be/UuaT_xm-JOU
6. Letter Sounds & Teaching Order
Systematic phonics instruction supports accurate decoding and prevents guessing behaviors.
Use a systematic teaching order for letter names, sounds, and formations (e.g., Wilson Fundations® sequence featured in the image below)
After initial sounds are learned, begin blending with short vowels to form real and nonsense words (e.g., mat, fan, tac).
🔗 Program overview: Wilson Language
7. Reading Words in the World
Point out familiar words in your child’s environment:
- Food packaging
- Street signs
- Labels around the house
Environmental print helps children understand that reading has meaning everywhere.
8. New Life Experiences
Children comprehend text more easily when they have background knowledge. Expose your child to:
- New places
- Activities
- Conversations
Experience fuels comprehension.
9. Shared Journal Writing
Create a simple daily journal together:
- Talk about something that happened
- Write it down using large print and short sentences
- Reread it daily
This builds oral language, reading confidence, and connection.
10. Love Books
Encourage independent engagement with books:
- “Read the pictures.”
- Retell familiar stories
Model reading as a joyful, everyday activity.
11. Beginning Reading with Decodable Texts
Avoid predictable or leveled books that encourage guessing. Instead, use decodable texts aligned with phonics instruction so children learn to decode letters into sounds.
Decoding is reading.
Instructional Progression
- VC / CV words (e.g., at, ba)
- CVC words (e.g., mop, fiv)
- CVCe words (e.g., bike, make)
- CCVC / CVCC words (e.g., spot, list)
Multi-syllable words and vowel teams come later in Grade 1.
12. Sight Words
Sight words should be read automatically, but children should still attempt to sound them out and learn the irregular parts (e.g., said).
Kindergarten students should master pre-primer and primer words in context.
Label items around your home and turn on closed captioning to increase print exposure.
13. Reading Readiness Resources
Educators and families widely use the following resources and support foundational literacy development.
- 🔗 Preschool Express: Preschool Express
- 🔗 Starfall: Starfall
- 🔗 Lexia Core 5: Lexia Core 5
Lexia Core 5 is an evidence-based program used in many schools. Students progress only after mastering prerequisite skills. There is a home version.
I am not affiliated with Lexia and do not receive any compensation for linking to their resources.
Do not help or provide answers—Lexia teaches the child.
Success in learning builds confidence and motivation. Ensure that reading practice remains positive, supportive, and joyful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much time should I spend on reading readiness activities each day?
Most families see strong benefits with 15–30 minutes per day, broken into short, enjoyable sessions. Reading aloud, sound play, and simple writing activities can be spread throughout the day.
Should I teach my child to read before kindergarten?
You do not need to rush formal reading instruction. The most important goal before kindergarten is building language, phonological awareness, letter knowledge, and positive feelings about books. Decoding skills will develop more easily when these foundations are strong.
Here are the skills your child should have developed in preschool.
What is the difference between phonological awareness and phonics?
Phonological awareness focuses on hearing and manipulating sounds in spoken language. Phonics connects those sounds to printed letters. Children benefit from phonological awareness practice before and alongside phonics instruction.
Are sight words memorization only?
No. While sight words should be read automatically, children should still attempt to sound out the regular parts of words and learn which parts are irregular. This supports long-term decoding skills.
Why are decodable books better than predictable books?
Decodable books allow children to practice the letter–sound patterns they have been taught, while predictable books encourage guessing from pictures or context. Decoding letters is the foundation of accurate reading.
My child reverses letters. Is that normal?
Yes. Letter reversals are developmentally common in early learners. Teaching correct letter formation, starting with capital letters, and providing gentle practice usually resolves reversals over time.
What if my child is not interested in books?
Start with high-interest topics, read aloud daily, and keep sessions short and positive. Allow your child to engage by talking about pictures, acting out stories, or rereading favorites. Motivation grows with success and enjoyment.
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Related Resources
Very Early Foundational Reading Skills
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Reference
This information is sourced from Slosson Educational Publications and the Slosson Test of Reading Readiness, published in 1991.
This page was last updated on January 15, 2026.
